Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-06-13
BACCALAUREArE SERMON.
Rev. W . Ii. Stradiey at Trinity W..
Il. church.

A large cor gregation assembled at tne
Trinity Nj. E. Church last night 10 hear
the Rev. w. B. Stradley preach the
baccalaureate sermon of the Los Angeles
Female College. The services com.
menced with the rendition of some ex'
cellent music by the choir quarteite,
after which the congregation joined in
singing Hymn No. 29i, Commencement
ode." The pastor, after announcing
that the College exercises would CON-
mence next Tuesday, at P. NJ. at the
First Presby terian Church began his
address. He found his text in Proverbs
C. 4,v. I, "Wisdom is the Principal
Thing, Therefore get Wisdom"
"The first question with every right
thinking young person just about to
enter inJo the arena OF active life, ,should
be How can best succeed in Life? lu
the early history of the world when
David, growing old and feeble, called
his son Solomon to his side, and gave
him advice for his future career he did
not tell him to accumulate riches, char.
lots and men. No! he said to him, get
wisdom-that is the principal thing in
life.' That great warrlor-king raised
from poor shepherd boy to be monarch
of one of the mightiest dynasties OF the
world, had discovered that wisdom was
the potent influence needed for success.
ful advancement.
And the lesson should be taken to
heart by all young scholars who are
about to enter into their first real battle
with life. At school and college, edu-
cation is obtained, the latent powers are
developed-this we call knowledge but
not wisdom. knowledge is the material
on which wisdom builds, knowledge is
the act of knowing, and perceiving, but
wisdom is the capacity to make use Of
this knowledge.
You are now leaving school with many
requirements, not loose as an assortment
of flowers in basket, but with the fes-
toons of learning already woven aud
ready for use. You nave acquired a
knowledge that has value in commer-
cial life, but if you went no farther and
rested OF the fact of having obtained
this knowledge you would be absolutely
devoid of wisdom. You must thrust
your hands into the treasures you have
accumulated. This is wisdom.
1t is lamentable fact that
large number Of the students
that graduate from our col
leges and universities become prac-
tical nonentIties. All of their efforts
end with their schooldays. They can
be compared to soldier canopied Tor
war, with loaded gun and fixed bayonet,
who advances to the threshold OF the
field of battle, but when the word march
is given, remains immovable.
lam reminded of the speech OF an
old College professor, who said: "Boys,
you've got your sheepskins; don't take
them home and lie down on them.
WISDOM WILL SUGGEST
The preservation of your health. You
have been instructed in anatomy, in the
laws of hygiene, and having this knowl-
edge. wisdom. will teach you that you
are bound to observe he laws pertaining
to health. Nine tenths of the idiocy
and insanity which fills our asylums Is
due to our parents and to ourselves.
Many, although knowing that they are
violating the laws of health, deliberate
lv fiy in the face of nature. Education
has developed your latent powers and
strengthened your dormant faculties,
and it is now acknowledged that wo-
man is mans equal intellectually
in nearly all the branches OF
toll. If you are ashamed to
work, or are too lazy to do so, then
YOU lack the highest wisdom. 1t is your
duty on leaving school to apply your
selves to the mastery of the practical
branches of life. The music OF the piano
is pleasant, but the best sharps are
butcherknives and the best flats, frying
pans. A young woman should learn
thoroughly all duties pertaining to the
household, for although she may now
have servants at her command, the day
NAV come when she may need this
household knowledge which should have
been acquired in youth. Beautify your
homes. What contrast there is be.
tween the home of a cultivated woman
and that of an ignorant one. =,
But there is one wisdom far above all
of which | have spoken, and that
is the wisdom of the Bible. With
bended knee and uplifted heart it alone
can be obtained. If any man lack
wisdom let him ask it of me- Christ
shows an open fountain, deep and broad,
to which all are invited, and shall we
refuse his invitation? As by the ascent
of mountain the scope of vision ia in
creased, so by this wisdom we can ele
vate ourselves, and this will be a wis
dom in which true happiness will be
found. The future is guided before you
il YOU will but walk in the way whicl
Christ has directed"